York’s 1969 race riot. Hanover’s 1991 race riot. A history of Klan and other hate group activity – including public rallies and distribution of fliers. The infamous Grandview golf course incident in which Ms. Ojo was a victim of discrimination as part of a group of African-American women who were singled out for allegedly slow play.

The most compelling evidence that the flier came from someone within our community is the text itself, which included content that is specific to Hanover – the kinds of things only a local would know or care about.

It calls Mayor Ojo a socialist and an “ultra-leftwing African feminist socialist Marxist racist invader from the People’s Republic of Harrisburg” who plans to replace Hanover’s “European Christian traditions with African sloth, thievery, violence and squalor.” The flier is festooned with hammer and sickle symbols. It warns that with her at the helm of the borough, thousands of “Negroes” will “contaminate” the area. And it also alleges a lack of transparency in the borough council appointing her to finish the term of Mayor Ben Adams, who resigned because he moved.

Disgusting.

Let’s start with the transparency claim: Utterly false. The appointment was handled in the open and by the book.

As for the claims of socialism and other libels: It’s unclear where that comes from. Mayor Ojo works for the Pennsylvania Turnpike – not exactly a bastion of Marxist activism.

And bizarrely, the flier starts out calling Mayor Ojo a communist and ends with an anti-development rant: “Builders and developers must be required to repurpose existing development, such as the North Hanover Mall. Retailers have vacated and developers keep building retail spaces and many remain unoccupied.”

"Builders and developers must be required..."? Who’s the real socialist here?

The flier is in some sense laughable and easily ignored – except for the fact that these kinds of things keep happening in York County.

As one social media commenter noted, racism is perilously close to becoming our community’s “brand” – what outsiders (and even some insiders) think of when they hear York County, Pa.

It’s maddening and frustrating. We as a community must push back and speak loudly in opposition when these incidents arise.

In the wake of the Grandview incident, community leaders spoke out and began planning efforts to counter such bigotry – the fruits of which we hope to see blossom soon.

Another step: Heed calls to start a countywide human relations commission – an issue that should be part of our county commissioner race this year.

The other thing we can do is exactly what Mayor Ojo did in the wake of the flier: Acknowledge the ugly rhetoric, make it clear that most people here don’t hold such racist views – and carry on.

Seek public office.

Use the system to change the system.

It’s heartening that four of the Grandview Five are in or are seeking elective office: Sandra Harrison is running for York County prothonotary. Karen Crosby is running for county commissioner. Sandra Thompson is running for judge.

And Myneca Ojo is serving Hanover as mayor – with an intelligence, grace and dignity that the author of this racist screed couldn’t even begin to match.

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Myneca Ojo testifies during a human relations commission hearing June 22, 2018. Ojo was one of five black women who had the police called on them at Grandview Golf Course on April 21, 2018.(Photo: Ty Lohr, York Daily Record)